Nico is a Jewish boy living in Salonika, Greece during World War II. He’s known for one thing: he never tells a lie. Because of this reputation, a Nazi commander takes him in and uses him to spread false hope to Jews being evacuated from Greece. He tells them there will be new homes and safety when they get to the destination—not knowing they were truly being sent to concentration camps.
Nico’s brother, Sebastian, has always been jealous of Nico’s goodness. When their family is forced onto a train, Sebastian believes Nico betrayed them and promises to get revenge.
Later, Nico realizes he was tricked into lying. Feeling guilty, he decides to find his family. By pretending to be different people based upon the situation he finds himself in Nico is able to survive the war.
Meanwhile, Sebastian and the rest of the family are sent to a concentration camp. Sebastian refuses to obey the Commandant—the same man who tricked Nico. The harsh treatment handed down to deliberately break him only fuels Sebastian’s anger and desire for revenge.
Years pass. Nico somehow ends up in Hollywood. Fannie, his first love and Sebastian’s estranged wife, finds him. As the truth slowly comes out, we learn that Nico tried to help the people who had protected him, while Sebastian hunted down those responsible for the suffering. Both brothers are trying to make sense of the pain they endured.
This is a bold and emotional story, though it relies on too many lucky escapes to feel fully believable. It may not be the strongest Holocaust novel, but it offers a satisfying ending for readers who want closure.
The Source 4 Books 